French Women’s Top 3 Beauty Secrets

The word is out French women know how to do beauty. Over the years, they’ve mastered the blasé gorgeous effect: bare, glowing skin; big eyes; and a nonchalant swipe of crimson lipstick.

If you dream of achieving a bit of that Marion Cotillard glamour, follow my advice “French women use beauty products to enhance their natural look and physique, we are flexible about our appearance—we can go without makeup and don’t mind messy hair.” Bedhead? We can handle that. As for the rest, read on.

Pamper yourself weekly (At home)

This tradition is passed on from generation to generation. Sunday is a beauty day for my grandmother, my mother and now myself. It involves a bath with the latest softening body oil, or bath salts to combat cellulite as well as an array of scrubs, eye mask, face mask and hair mask. Of course my mother would finish her weekly beauty routine by her home mani-pedi.

Less is More (Except When It Comes to Skincare)

While French women likely forgo heavy makeup on a daily basis, they never skimp on skincare. I recommend the layering technique: “toner, followed by serum, plus a day/night moisturizer, plus foundation, plus sunscreen.” Finish by spraying on a light mist of rose water or Evian thermal water to calm skin and give it a dewy effect.

Think Natural

From silicones to parabens, French ladies don’t want synthetics anywhere near their hair or skin. “We look for simplicity before everything else,” We are devoted to plant- and flower-based ingredients like olive oil, honey, shea butter, and grape extracts. It’s no wonder that some of French favorite brands rely on these powerhouse ingredients: Nuxe employs honey in many of its healing products.

When in Doubt, Fake It

The key to mimicking French style? Confidence and good products.

Get the Parisienne beauty look with the help of Be Smooth favorite French skincare lines Nuxe, Lierac, Pevonia, Bourjois, Roger& Gallet and Phyto.